Application of Objective Prism Techniques in the Magellanic Clouds

Abstract

The Magellanic Clouds offer the possibility to investigate the stellar content and distribution within two entire stellar systems. For that purpose it is necessary to separate member stars from foreground objects, and subsequently determine the types of the member stars. Theories of stellar evolution as well as those concerning the formation of systems of stars and their kinematic and dynamic properties have been largely influenced by the characteristic distribution and frequency of different types of stars within our galaxy and other systems. Consequently, a classification of member stars of the Magellanic Clouds must be detailed enough to permit the segregation of groups of different evolutionary or kinematic significance. It shall be shown that existing objective prism techniques may well serve such purpose.